The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-02-12
AUGUST AND NINA.
A Marriage by Proxy Contracted De.
tween Anarchist Spies and
Miss Van Zandt.
A SociaIstic Justice Performs the Oere-
mony-Spies' Brother Acts as
Proxy.
lrrom tho chlcngo Trlbune.

Ever since sheriff Matson declared that Miss
Van Zandt should not marry August Spies tho
young lady has been more than ever resolved that
she would oit The determination was chiefly
ON her side. Spies being measurably Indifferent
on the subject So she set her wits 10 work,
aud has kept them at work ever since the mar
riage ceremony was forbidden, e. devise some
way IA which 90 deceive the adversary. Sue
spread abroad the report that she was going
South or going u Europe. in order % throw tho
Sheriff OF his guard, and all the while kept
up her plotting and planning Among
10 circumvcnt Sheriff Matson was Justice
Engelhnrdt, Of Jefferson, who Is somewhat OF
a Spies symphthizcr. and who made speech
at meeting at Jefferson few months ago,
which was rnthor stronger than common sense
would have dictated. Justice Engelhardt,
being wise beyond his generation studied np
the law helped by unknown attorney, and
caino o. the conclusion that the only way IN
which the sheriff. veto could be eNadod was
by a marriage by proxy. Ho figured 10 out ia
some way that that would constitute valid
marriage. probably inhaled by his rocOllections
Of various royal porsonnges whom be had read
Of at one time and another as being married by
proxy. lie was directed or authorized 10 draw
up a proper form power 81 attorney, and
after mucn lahoring ho succeeded In getting y
Saturday morning Miss Van Zandt and Miss
Spies got the document and took IL 10 the
County Jail whore Mrs. Ferdinand Spies and a
Mrs. Wondland witnessed spies' signature 20
tho paper, by which lac authorized his brother
Henry 20 rcprosont him az the ceremony. Then
they Miss Van Iandt's parents and Henry
Chris and Ferdinand Spies, brothers OF August
went out 10 Justice EngelhRrdts house in
Jefferson, and the ceremony was performed,
after the Justice had again thought over the
matter and satisfied himself tnat he was cor
rect ia his position. IL went on Just as IL uHu-
ally does ia "a Justices Office, except that Horny
Spies. armed with his proxy or power OF uttor-
ncy. answered % the name ~ August vincent
Theodore. and. as his ropres cntntive, said that
be took Miss Van Znndt 10 be his wife. 10 was
late NJ night whom this interesting ceremony
was performed and midnight before the party
got back 20 their various homes.
As act 81 defiance 20 Sheriff Matson tho
thing Is we'll enough, but when Justice Engel-
hHrdt comes 70 return the marriage license 70
the County Clerk as he "a required % DO, and
cfrtihos that be married the parties named in
10 he viii be apt 10 hear something from that
official for a marriage by proxy is thing
unknown 10 tho laws OF the United states,
or 10 tho law Of England. The form Of mar
riage by proxy never itself tho marriage
was never anything more than "A botrothal
and was always followed by a religious
ceremony in due course OF time. Ia this
case 10 Is nothing more than contract OF
marriage which has been entered into IL
either Of the parties breaks the contract the
other has the right 10 for damages, but not
for specific performance. Should spies be
hanged IA few months Miss Van Iandt would
not ba his widow sho would have no right to
boar his name she could not inherit his prop
efty she would have no dover right IN his os-
tate she would stand precisely the same
footing ~ no had written her "A proposal Of
marriage, and she had replied ncceIsing II =
only that and nothing more Marriage by
proxy" sounds well, but IL ~ not marriage by
common, statutory, or canon law.